Portable information device

ABSTRACT

A portable information device is capable of securing the appearance quality and the durability of products while having a foldable configuration. The portable information device has a backbone member provided throughout and between the inner surface of one edge portion of a first chassis member and the inner surface of one edge portion of a second chassis member so as to cover a gap between the one edge portion of the first chassis member and the one edge portion of the second chassis member connected by a hinge mechanism. The backbone member is provided to the inner surface of the one edge portion of the first chassis member so as to be slidable in an X direction from the second chassis member to the first chassis member along the inner surface, and is non-slidably fixed to the inner surface of the one edge portion of the second chassis member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/855,695, filed Dec. 27, 2017 which claims the benefit of JPapplication 2017002063 filed Jan. 10, 2017, all of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable information device providedwith a foldable display on the inner sides of a pair of foldable chassismembers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, portable information devices, such as a tablet PC and asmartphone having a touch panel type liquid crystal display and nothaving a physical keyboard, have rapidly spread. The display of thiskind of portable information device has been desired to be large in usebut has been desired to be miniaturized in carrying. Then, a portableinformation device has been proposed in which not only a chassis but adisplay is configured so as to be foldable by the use of a flexibledisplay, such as organic EL (Electro Luminescence) (for example, seePatent Document 1).

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2014-216025

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As a chassis of the above-described folding structure, a configurationof connecting adjacent edge portions between a pair of chassis membersarranged side by side on the right side and the left side by a hingemechanism is mentioned, for example. However, with this configuration,when the pair of chassis members is closed into a double-folded state, agap is generated between edge portions on the hinge sides of the chassismembers. Then, internal elements are exposed from the gap, which hasposed problems in the appearance quality, durability, and the like ofproducts.

The present invention has been made considering the problems of theformer technique described above. It is an object of the presentinvention to provide a portable information device capable of securingthe appearance quality or the durability of products while having afoldable configuration.

A portable information device according to the present invention has afirst chassis member and a second chassis member foldably connected bythe connection of one edge portions disposed adjacent to each other by ahinge mechanism, a display which is provided over inner surfaces of thefirst chassis member and the second chassis member and which is foldableinto a double-folded state, and a backbone member provided throughoutand between the inner surface of the one edge portion of the firstchassis member and the inner surface of the one edge portion of thesecond chassis member so as to cover a gap between the one edge portionof the first chassis member and the one edge portion of the secondchassis member connected by the hinge mechanism, in which the backbonemember is provided to the inner surface of the one edge portion of thefirst chassis member so as to be slidable in a direction from the secondchassis member to the first chassis member along the inner surface andis non-slidably fixed to the inner surface of the one edge portion ofthe second chassis member.

A configuration may be acceptable in which the backbone member has aflexible sheet-like member, and a reinforcing member which is stuck tothe inner surface of the flexible sheet-like member, and extends alongthe one edge portions of the first chassis member and the second chassismember.

A configuration may be acceptable in which two or more of thereinforcing members are arranged in parallel along a direction from theone edge portion of the first chassis member to the one edge portion ofthe second chassis member and the reinforcing members form an arch shapein which the side surfaces of the reinforcing members abut on each otheron the inner surface side of a bending portion of the flexiblesheet-like member in a state where the first chassis member and thesecond chassis member are folded into a double-folded state through thehinge mechanism.

A configuration may be acceptable in which an elastic member energizingthe backbone member along the slide direction from the second chassismember to the first chassis member is provided.

A configuration may be acceptable in which a groove portion for passinga wiring line connecting the first chassis member side and the secondchassis member side is provided in the inner surface of the backbonemember along a direction from the first chassis member to the secondchassis member.

A configuration may be acceptable in which a lid member closes anopening of the groove portion.

A configuration may be acceptable in which a support plate which isfixed to the inner surface sides of the first chassis member and thesecond chassis member is provided and supports the rear surface of thedisplay, and a metal sheet-like member is used as the lid member.

A configuration may be acceptable in which one end portion of the lidmember is fixed to the surface of the backbone member and the other endportion opposite to the one end portion thereof is movably placed on thesurface of the backbone member in the slide direction of the backbonemember.

A configuration may be acceptable in which the other end portion of thelid member extends beyond an end portion of the backbone member.

The present invention can secure the appearance quality or thedurability of a product of a portable information device although theportable information device has a foldable configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a portableinformation device according to one embodiment of the present inventionis closed into a storage form.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a state wherethe portable information device illustrated in FIG. 1 is opened into ausage form.

FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically illustrating the internal structureof the portable information device illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a principal portion in a statewhere a backbone member is omitted from the portable information deviceillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the backbone member.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating thecross-sectional structure along the VIA-VIA line in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating thecross-sectional structure along the VIB-VIB line in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating thecross-sectional structure along the VIIA-VIIA line in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating thecross-sectional structure along the VIIB-VIIB line in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating thecross-sectional structure along the VIII-VIII line in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9A is an enlarged cross sectional view of a principal portionschematically illustrating the cross-sectional structure along adirection in which groove portions of the backbone member are arranged.

FIG. 9B is an enlarged cross sectional view of a principal portionschematically illustrating the cross-sectional structure along thelongitudinal direction of the backbone member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a preferable embodiment of a portable information deviceaccording to the present invention is described in detail with referenceto the attached drawings.

1. Description of Entire Configuration of Portable Information Device

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a portableinformation device 10 according to one embodiment of the presentinvention is closed into a storage form. FIG. 2 is a perspective viewschematically illustrating a state where the portable information device10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is opened into a usage form. FIG. 3 is a planview schematically illustrating the internal structure of the portableinformation device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the portable information device 10has a first chassis member 12A, a second chassis member 12B, a backbonemember 14, and a display 16. This embodiment describes a tablet type PCwhich is foldable into a double-folded state like a book as an exampleof the portable information device 10. The portable information device10 may be a cellular phone, a smartphone, an electronic notebook, or thelike.

The chassis members 12A and 12B each are rectangular plate-like membersin which the side wall is formed so as to be raised on three sides otherthan the side corresponding to the backbone member 14. The chassismembers 12A and 12B each contain metal plates of stainless steel,magnesium, aluminum, and the like; and/or fiber reinforced resin platescontaining reinforced fibers, such as carbon fibers, and the like, forexample. To the inner surface sides of the chassis members 12A and 12B,a display 16 is fixed through a support plate 18 (see also FIG. 6B). Thechassis members 12A and 12B are connected through a pair of hingemechanisms 19 and 19 provided in both end portions of the backbonemember 14. The hinge mechanisms 19 connect the chassis members 12A and12B so as to be foldable into the storage form illustrated in FIG. 1 andthe usage form illustrated in FIG. 2. A line C illustrated by the dashedline in FIG. 3 represents a bending center C serving as the center of afolding operation of the chassis members 12A and 12B.

In the chassis members 12A and 12B, inner end surfaces 12Aa and 12Ba onthe backbone member 14 side serve as hinge sides, and outer end surfaces12Ab and 12Bb on the side opposite to the backbone member 14 serve asopen end portion sides.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a main substrate 20, a communication module21, a cooling fan 22, and the like are attached and fixed to the innersurface of the first chassis member 12A using a screw or the like whichis not illustrated. To the inner surface of the second chassis member12B, a sub-substrate 24, an antenna 25, a battery device 26, and thelike are attached and fixed using a screw or the like which is notillustrated. The main substrate 20 is an electronic substrate forperforming the overall control of the portable information device 10 andcarries various kinds of electronic components, such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU) and a memory which are not illustrated. Thecommunication module 21 is a device performing information processing ofvarious wireless communications of wireless LAN (Local Area Network) andthe like performing transmission and receiving with the antenna 25. Thecooling fan 22 is a fan for cooling heat generated in the centralprocessing unit and the like mounted on the main substrate 20. Thesub-substrate 24 is an electronic substrate functioning as a controllercontrolling the display state of the display 16. The battery device 26is a power supply of the portable information device 10 and can becharged from an external power supply through a power cable which is notillustrated.

The display 16 is a touch panel type liquid crystal display, forexample. The display 16 is structured so as to be foldable together withthe chassis members 12A and 12B when the chassis members 12A and 12B arefolded. The display 16 is a flexible display, such as an organic ELhaving a paper structure with high flexibility, for example and isopened/closed with an opening/closing operation of the chassis members12A and 12B.

The display 16 is attached and fixed to the inner surface sides of thechassis members 12A and 12B through the support plate 18 using a screwwhich is not illustrated. The rear surface of the display surface (frontsurface) of the display 16 is pasted and fixed to the surface of thesupport plate 18 using an adhesive, a double-sided tape, or the like. Inthe case of this embodiment, the support plate 18 has a pair of platemembers 18 a and 18 a which are disposed on the inner surface sides ofthe chassis members 12A and 12B and are connected to each other so as tobe bendable centering on the bending center C (see FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B).To the entire surface of the pair of plate members 18 a and 18 a, asheet-like member 18 b is stuck, whereby the pair of plate members 18 aand 18 a is connected to each other so as to be bendable.

The plate members 18 a contain metal plates of stainless steel,magnesium, aluminum, and the like; and/or fiber reinforced resin platesin which a matrix resin containing a thermosetting resin or athermoplastic resin is impregnated with reinforced fibers, such ascarbon fibers, and the like, for example. In this embodiment, a carbonfiber reinforced resin plate containing carbon fibers as a reinforcedresin is used. The sheet-like member 18 b is a thin film containing amaterial having flexibility, such as a thin resin film or metallic foil.The sheet-like member 18 b is stuck to the entire surfaces of the platemembers 18 a and 18 a. In this embodiment, metallic foil containingstainless steel is used as the sheet-like member 18 b. The display 16 ispasted to the surface of the sheet-like member 18 b using an adhesive orthe like. In the sheet-like member 18 b, a portion covering adjacent endportions of the plate members 18 a functions as a bending portion(flexible hinge) of the support plate 18.

In the support plates 18, the adjacent end surfaces of the pair of platemembers 18 a and 18 a abut on each other in the usage form in which thechassis members 12A and 12B are opened into a flat shape (see FIG. 6B).In the support plate 18, the adjacent end surfaces of the pair of platemembers 18 a and 18 a are separated from each other in the storage formin which the chassis members 12A and 12B are folded into a double-foldedstate (see FIG. 6A).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a bezel member 27 is disposed on an outerperipheral edge portion of the surface of the display 16 in the state ofbeing attached and fixed to the inner surface sides of the chassismembers 12A and 12B (see also FIG. 8). The bezel member 27 is providedso as to cover a non-displaying region (inactive region) R2 of the outerperipheral edge portion excluding a display region (active region) R1 ofthe surface of the display 16.

Thus, the portable information device 10 can be configured so as to bechanged into the usage form illustrated in FIG. 1 and the storage formillustrated in FIG. 2 by opening/closing the display 16 provided on theinner side by opening/closing the pair of chassis members 12A and 12B.

Hereinafter, as illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the portableinformation device 10 is described designating a direction from thebackbone member 14 to the outer end surfaces 12Ab and 12Bb as an Xdirection, and a direction along the longitudinal direction of thebackbone member 14 as a Y direction. With respect to the X direction, adirection from the backbone member 14 to the one outer end surface 12Abis sometimes referred to as an X1 direction, and a direction from thebackbone member 14 to the other outer end surface 12Bb is sometimesreferred to as an X2 direction. Similarly, with respect to the Ydirection, a direction to one side (upper side in FIG. 3) in thelongitudinal direction of the backbone member 14 is sometimes referredto as a Y1 direction, and a direction to the other side (lower side inFIG. 3) is sometimes referred to as a Y2 direction.

2. Description of Hinge Mechanism

An example of the configuration of the hinge mechanism 19 connecting thechassis members 12A and 12B is described. FIG. 4 is an enlargedperspective view of a principal portion in a state where the backbonemember 14 is omitted from the portable information device 10 illustratedin FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the hinge mechanisms 19 each are disposed atpositions overlapping with both end portions in the longitudinaldirection of the backbone member 14. The hinge mechanisms 19 areprovided at positions located on the outside of the outer shape of thedisplay 16 and are linearly symmetrical with each other. The hingemechanism 19 has a first hinge chassis 28A, a second hinge chassis 28B,a first arm 30, and a second arm 31.

The first hinge chassis 28A is a part of a thin block shape formed ofresin, metal, or the like. The first hinge chassis 28A is fixed onto theinner surface of the first chassis member 12A using fixing screws 32.The second hinge chassis 28B is a part of a thin block shape formed ofresin, metal, or the like. The second hinge chassis 28B is fixed ontothe inner surface of the second chassis member 12B using the fixingscrews 32.

The first hinge chassis 28A has a recessed portion 34 on the rearsurface side landing on the inner surface of the first chassis member12A. The recessed portion 34 has a recessed shape which is opened fromthe inner side surface (side surface on the Y2 side in the hingemechanism 19 on the upper side in FIG. 3) of the first hinge chassis 28Ato the side surface (side surface on the X2 side) on the bending centerC side (also see FIG. 7A to FIG. 8). The second hinge chassis 28B has arecessed portion 35 on the rear surface side landing on the innersurface of the second chassis member 12B. The recessed portion 35 is arecessed shape which is opened from the inner side surface (side surfaceon the Y2 side in the hinge mechanism 19 on the upper side in FIG. 3) ofthe second hinge chassis 28B to the side surface (side surface on the X1side) on the bending center C side (also see FIG. 7A to FIG. 8). Therecessed portions 34 and 35 communicate with each other with the bendingcenter C interposed therebetween (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 7B).

While one end portion of the first arm 30 is rotatably connected to thefirst hinge chassis 28A through a first hinge shaft 36 a, the other endportion thereof is rotatably connected to the second hinge chassis 28Bthrough a second hinge shaft 36 b (also see FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B). Whileone end portion of the second arm 31 is rotatably connected to thesecond hinge chassis 28B through a third hinge shaft 36 c, the other endportion is rotatably connected to the first hinge chassis 28A through afourth hinge shaft 36 d (also see FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B).

The first arm 30 and the second arm 31 are arranged in parallel in the Ydirection. The second hinge shaft 36 b of the first arm 30 is located ata position between the third hinge shaft 36 c and the fourth hinge shaft36 d of the second arm 31. The third hinge shaft 36 c of the second arm31 is located at a position between the first hinge shaft 36 a and thesecond hinge shaft 36 b of the first arm 30. Thus, the first arm 30 andthe second arm 31 are alternately arranged side by side with apositional shift in the X direction and the Y direction.

In each hinge mechanism 19, when the chassis members 12A and 12B arefolded centering on the bending center C, the arm members 30 and 31rotate through the hinge shafts 36 a to 36 d (see FIG. 4). Thus, thehinge mechanisms 19 connect the chassis members 12A and 12B so as to berotatable from the state in which the chassis members 12A and 12B arefolded into a double-folded state to the state in which the chassismembers 12A and 12B are opened into a flat shape.

3. Description of Backbone Member

The backbone member 14 is described. In the storage form illustrated inFIG. 1, inner end surfaces 12Aa and 12Ba of the chassis members 12A and12B are greatly separated from each other to generate a gap (also seeFIG. 4). Then, in the portable information device 10, the backbonemember 14 is provided in order to prevent the display 16 and theelements, such as the main substrate 20 and the battery device 26, frombeing exposed by covering the gap. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspectiveview of the backbone member 14. FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional viewschematically illustrating the cross-sectional structure along theVIA-VIA line in FIG. 1. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view schematicallyillustrating the cross-sectional structure along the VIB-VIB line inFIG. 3.

The backbone member 14 is a thin plate-like member having flexibilityserving as the backbone in folding the portable information device 10.The backbone member 14 is provided throughout and between the chassismembers 12A and 12B so as to cover the inner end surfaces 12Aa and 12Bafrom the inner side while crossing the same (see FIG. 3, FIG. 6A, andFIG. 6B).

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the backbone member 14 has a sheet-like member(flexible sheet-like member) 40, a first support member 42, a secondsupport member 43, and a plurality of reinforcing members 44 a, 44 b, 44c, and 44 d.

The first support member 42 and the second support member 43 are thinplate-like members extending in the longitudinal direction (Y direction)of the backbone member 14. The reinforcing members 44 a to 44 d are thinplate-like members extending in the longitudinal direction of thebackbone member 14 and are narrower in the X direction than the supportmembers 42 and 43. The reinforcing members 44 a to 44 d are arrangedside by side in the X2 direction from the first chassis member 12A tothe second chassis member 12B between the support members 42 and 43. Thefirst support member 42, the second support member 43, and thereinforcing members 44 a to 44 d are thin plate members formed of resin,metal, and the like.

The sheet-like member 40 is a fiber reinforced resin plate in which athermosetting resin, such as epoxy resin, is impregnated with reinforcedfibers, such as carbon fibers. The sheet-like member 40 is a thinsheet-like member of 0.3 mm or less, for example, and has flexibilityand high strength. As the reinforced fibers, various materials, such asmetal fibers, such as stainless steel fibers, and inorganic fibers, suchas glass fibers, may be used. The sheet-like member 40 may be formed ofa resin film, metallic foil, and the like.

The support members 42 and 43 and the reinforcing members 44 a to 44 dare stuck to the surface of the sheet-like member 40 using an adhesive,a double-sided tape, or the like. The support members 42 and 43, and thereinforcing members 44 a to 44 d, and the sheet-like members 40 may beintegrally formed. Thus, the backbone member 14 is bendable inconnection with a folding operation of the chassis members 12A and 12B.In the sheet-like member 40, a portion covering the inner end surfaces12Aa and 12Ba of the chassis members 12A and 12B serves as a bendingportion 40 a (see FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B). The sheet-like member 40 has aplurality of notch portions 40 b arranged side by side in the Ydirection in an edge portion on the second support member 43 side.

The first support member 42 is provided slidably in the X directioncrossing the chassis members 12A and 12B along the inner surface of thefirst chassis member 12A on the inner surface side. The first supportmember 42 has pressing surfaces 42 a on the surfaces in both endportions in the longitudinal direction. The pressing surface 42 a is asurface one step lower than the other surfaces of the first supportmember 42. The first support member 42 has a plurality of grooveportions 42 b in the X direction in the surface of a portion locatedbetween the pair of pressing surfaces 42 a and 42 a in the longitudinaldirection. A side surface 42 c on the X2 side facing the reinforcingmember 44 a of the first support member 42 forms an inclined surfaceretreating in the X1 direction from the reinforcing member 44 a side ina direction from the rear surface side (sheet-like member 40 side) tothe front surface side (see FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B).

The first support member 42 receives energization force by a tensionspring (elastic member) 45 along the X direction (see FIG. 3 and FIG.6A). The tension spring 45 always energizes the backbone member 14 alongthe X1 direction in a direction from the second chassis member 12B tothe first chassis member 12A.

The second support member 43 is non-slidably attached and fixed to theinner surface of the second chassis member 12B on the inner surface sideusing a fixing screw 46 (see FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B). The second supportmember 43 has pressing surfaces 43 a on the surfaces in both endportions in the longitudinal direction. The pressing surface 43 a is asurface one step lower than the other surfaces of the second supportmember 43. The second support member 43 has a plurality of grooveportion 43 b in the X direction in the surface of a portion locatedbetween the pair of pressing surfaces 43 a and 43 a. Through-holes 47for passing screw portions of the fixing screws 46 are provided atappropriate positions in the longitudinal direction of the secondsupport member 43. The fixing screws 46 are fastened and fixed to thesecond chassis member 12B through the notch portions 40 b of thesheet-like member 40. A side surface 43 c on the X1 side facing thereinforcing member 44 d of the second support member 43 forms aninclined surface retreating in the X2 direction from the reinforcingmember 44 d side in a direction from the rear surface side (sheet-likemember 40 side) to the front surface side (see FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B).

Each of the reinforcing members 44 a to 44 d has a trapezoidalcross-sectional shape in which the upper bottom and the lower bottom aresomewhat curved. A pressing surface 44 e which is a surface one steplower than the other surfaces is provided on the surfaces in both endportions in the longitudinal direction of each of the reinforcingmembers 44 a to 44 d (see FIG. 5). Each of the pressing surfaces 44 e isformed at substantially the same height as that of the pressing surfaces42 a and 43 a of the support member 42 and 43 (see FIG. 7B). The numberof the reinforcing members 44 a to 44 d can be changed as appropriate.

Each of the reinforcing members 44 a to 44 d has a side surface 48 a onthe first support member 42 side (X1 side) and a side surface 48 b onthe second support member 43 side (X2 side) (see FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B).The two reinforcing members 44 a and 44 b close to the first supportmember 42 side, and the two reinforcing members 44 c and 44 d close tothe second support member 43 side, are substantially linearlysymmetrical with each other about the boundary between the reinforcingmembers 44 b and 44 c at the center. The side surface 48 a of thereinforcing member 44 a forms an inclined surface retreating in the X2direction from the first support member 42 side in a direction from therear surface side (sheet-like member 40 side) to the front surface side.The side surface 48 b of the reinforcing member 44 d forms an inclinedsurface retreating in the X1 direction from the second support member 43side in a direction from the rear surface side (sheet-like member 40side) to the front surface side. The other side surfaces 48 a and 48 bface the facing side surfaces 48 b and 48 a, respectively, substantiallyin parallel to each other or form an inclined surface in a direction ofsomewhat separating from each other.

In the storage form illustrated in FIG. 6A, the side surfaces 48 a and48 b of the reinforcing members 44 a to 44 d abut on each other on theinner surface side of the bending portion 40 a of the sheet-like member40 bent into a double-folded state to form an arch shape (arc shape)similar to a shape in which a plurality of teeth are arranged side byside without a gap. Herein, the side surfaces 48 a and 48 b of thereinforcing members 44 a and 44 d in both ends abut on the side surfaces42 c and 43 c of the support member 42 and 43, respectively. Due to thearch shape, the inner end surfaces 12Aa and 12Ba are separated from eachother, so that the reinforcing members 44 a to 44 d function as supportsfirmly supporting the chassis members 12A and 12B in the storage formwith reduced rigidity. More specifically, in the vicinity of thebackbone member 14 between the chassis members 12A and 12B, the hingemechanisms 19 are provided in both end portions in the Y direction inthe storage form but, in portions other than the both end portions, aportion having no rigidity extends in the Y direction. In the portableinformation device 10, the support members 42 and 43 and the reinforcingmembers 44 a to 44 b form supports of an arch shape extending in the Ydirection to secure the rigidity in the thickness direction in thestorage form.

In such a storage form, the inner end surfaces 12Aa and 12Ba of thechassis members 12A and 12B are disposed at the most separatedpositions. Therefore, the backbone member 14 is positioned at aretreated position where the first support member 42 side, which is theslide side, is drawn to the most inner end surface 12Aa side (X2direction) on the inner surface of the first chassis member 12A. Herein,the first support member 42 slides to the inner end surface 12Aa sideagainst the energization force of the tension spring 45.

On the other hand, in the usage form in which the chassis members 12Aand 12B are opened into a flat shape, the reinforcing members 44 a to 44d are disposed side by side in one row together with the support members42 and 43 on the inner surfaces of the chassis members 12A and 12B.Therefore, the backbone member 14 takes a form of a flat shape havingthe minimum thickness. In the usage form, the inner end surfaces 12Aa ofthe chassis members 12A and 12B and 12Ba are disposed at positions wherethe inner end surfaces 12Aa are most close to or abut on each other.Therefore, the backbone member 14 is located at an advance positionwhere the first support member 42 side, which is the slide side,advances to the outer end surface 12Ab side (X1 direction) opposite tothe most inner end surface 12Aa side on the inner surface of the firstchassis member 12A. Herein, the first support member 42 smoothly slidesto the outer end surface 12Ab side by the energization force of thetension spring 45, and therefore the backbone member 14 does not causefloating or catching in sliding.

4. Description of Relationship Between Backbone Member and HingeMechanism

The relationship between the backbone member 14 and the hinge mechanism19 is described. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view schematicallyillustrating the cross-sectional structure along the VIIA-VIIA line inFIG. 1. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating thecross-sectional structure along the VIIB-VIIB line in FIG. 3. FIG. 8 isa cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the cross-sectionalstructure along the VIII-VIII line in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the backbone member 14 extends to aposition where the backbone member 14 covers the rear surface side ofeach of the hinge mechanisms 19 to prevent the hinge mechanisms 19 fromexposing from between the inner end surfaces 12Aa and 12Ba of thechassis members 12A and 12B.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, and FIG. 8, the pressingsurfaces 42 a, 43 a, and 44 e in both end portions in the longitudinaldirection of the backbone member 14 are held between the rear surfacesof the hinge chassis 28A and 28B and the inner surfaces of the chassismembers 12A and 12B. Specifically, the pressing surfaces 42 a, 43 a, and44 e of the backbone member 14 are inserted and disposed in the recessedportions 34 and 35 of the hinge chassis 28A and 28B. Herein, at leastthe pressing surfaces 42 a and 44 e of the first support member 42 andthe reinforcing members 44 a to 44 d are slidably held within therecessed portion 34 of the first support member 42 and are guidedbetween the inner surface of the first chassis 12A and the top surfaceof the recessed portion 34. More specifically, the recessed portion 34on the first hinge chassis 28A side guides the backbone member 14 so asto be slidable in the X direction and prevents floating or the like insliding. The recessed portion 34 has a length dimension capable ofcoping with a slide distance (slide range) (see FIG. 7A) L of thebackbone member 14. Therefore, the recessed portion 34 is longer in theX direction than the recessed portion 35 on the second hinge chassis 28Bside.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the hinge mechanisms 19 each have anengagement protruding portion 50 in the outer surface of each of thehinge chassis 28A and 28B. On the other hand, engagement recessedportions 52 a are formed in the internal surfaces of wall portions 52which are the side walls along the X direction raised from the innersurfaces of the chassis members 12A and 12B facing the engagementprotruding portions 50. The engagement recessed portion 52 a allows theengagement of the engagement protruding portion 50 and regulates atleast the movement in a direction where the engagement protrudingportion 50 raises from the inner surfaces of the chassis members 12A and12B.

Therefore, the first hinge chassis 28A is held between the inner surfaceof the first chassis member 12A and the top surface of the engagementrecessed portion 52 a of the wall portion 52 to be prevented fromfloating. The second hinge chassis 28B is held between the inner surfaceof the second chassis member 12B and the top surface of the engagementrecessed portion 52 a of the wall portion 52 to be prevented fromfloating. More specifically, the hinge chassis 28A and 28B are providedwith the recessed portions 34 and 35 into which the backbone member 14is inserted on the rear surface sides, and therefore the fixing screws32 can be fastened only around the recessed portions 34 and 35.Therefore, there is a concern that the hinge chassis 28A and 28B causefloating in the movement of the hinge mechanisms 19. Thus, in theportable information device 10, the hinge chassis 28A and 28B areengaged with and pressed against the wall portions 52 of the chassismembers 12A and 12B to prevent the hinge chassis 28A and 28B fromfloating. The hinge chassis 28A and 28B may be engaged with theengagement recessed portion 52 a without providing the engagementprotruding portions 50.

5. Description of Wiring Line Structure

The wiring line structure of the portable information device 10 isdescribed. The portable information device 10 adopts the configurationin which the portable information device 10 can be folded into adouble-folded state. Therefore, an electronic substrate or electroniccomponents are disposed as appropriate on the inner surfaces of thechassis members 12A and 12B on the right side and the left side, andwiring lines connecting the same need to be provided through the innersurface side of the backbone member 14 to be bent. Therefore, there is aconcern that the wiring lines cause a positional shift inopening/closing of the chassis members 12A and 12B to cause defects,such as clamping or disconnection, and thus it is desirable to preventthe positional shift of the wiring lines. FIG. 9A is an enlarged crosssectional view of a principal portion schematically illustrating thecross-sectional structure along the X direction of the groove portions42 b and 43 b of the backbone member 14 (X direction). FIG. 9B is anenlarged cross sectional view of a principal portion schematicallyillustrating the cross-sectional structure along the longitudinaldirection (Y direction) of the backbone member 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, FIG. 9A, and FIG. 9B, between the firstchassis member 12A and the second chassis member 12B, a plurality ofwiring lines 54 for electrically connecting the main substrate 20 andthe sub-substrate 24, for example, is provided. The wiring lines 54 arewired crossing the chassis members 12A and 12B crossing the innersurface side of the backbone member 14. The wiring lines 54 are insertedinto the groove portions 42 b and 43 b in the X direction formed in thesupport members 42 and 43 of the backbone member 14. In the backbonemember 14, the height positions of the surfaces of the reinforcingmembers 44 a to 44 b are substantially in agreement with the heightpositions of the bottom surfaces of the groove portions 42 b and 43 b(see FIG. 9A).

Therefore, the wiring lines 54 are stably held in the state of beinginserted into the groove portions 42 b and 43 b. Accordingly, theoccurrence of defects, such as a positional shift, in opening/closing ofthe chassis members 12A and 12B is prevented. More specifically, alsowhen the backbone member 14 slides with an opening/closing operation ofthe chassis members 12A and 12B, the wiring lines 54 slide within thegroove portions 42 b and 43 b, and therefore the occurrence of defects,such as a positional shift or clamping, is prevented. The wiring lines54 may be positioned and fixed to one of the chassis members 12A and 12Boutside either the groove portion 42 b or 43 b, for example.

As illustrated in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, upper openings of the grooveportions 42 b and 43 b are covered with the rear surface of the supportplate 18. Therefore, the wiring lines 54 can be prevented from floatingfrom the upper openings of the groove portions 42 b and 43 b and fallingoff on the outside of the groove portions 42 b and 43 b. Furthermore, inthis embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, a lid member 56closing the openings of the groove portions 42 b and 43 b is provided tomore certainly prevent the falling off of the wiring lines 54 from thegroove portions 42 b and 43 b.

The lid member 56 is a thin film containing materials havingflexibility, such as a thin resin film or metallic foil. The lid member56 is provided over substantially the entire length excluding both endportions in the Y direction of the backbone member 14, and over theentire width in the X direction thereof, and is pasted to the surface ofthe backbone member 14. In the case of this embodiment, a sheet-likemember containing stainless steel (stainless steel sheet) is used forthe lid member 56. An end portion (one end portion) on the X2 side ofthe lid member 56 is stuck to the surface of the second support member43 and an end portion (other end portion) on the X1 side thereof ismovably placed on the surface of the first support member 42, forexample (see FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B). Therefore, the lid member 56 preventsthe falling off of the wiring lines 54 from the groove portions 42 b and43 b while sliding on the backbone member 14 following the slide of thebackbone member 14. The lid member 56 may be omitted and the platemember 18 a may be used as a substitute for the lid member 56.

6. Description of Operational Effects of Portable Information Device

As described above, the portable information device 10 according to thisembodiment has the backbone member 14 provided throughout and betweenthe inner surface of one edge portion of the first chassis member 12Aand the inner surface of one edge portion of the second chassis member12B so as to cover a gap between the one edge portion of the firstchassis member 12A and the one edge portion of the second chassis member12B connected by the hinge mechanisms 19. The backbone member 14 isprovided to the inner surface of the one edge portion of the firstchassis member 12A so as to be slidable along the X direction from thesecond chassis member 12B to the first chassis member 12A along theinner surface and is non-slidably fixed to the inner surface of the oneedge portion of the second chassis member 12B.

Therefore, the backbone member 14 can cover a gap generated between edgeportions on the hinge sides of the chassis members 12A and 12B (betweeninner end surfaces 12Aa and 12Ba) when the first chassis member 12A andthe second chassis member 12B are folded into a double-folded statethrough the hinge mechanisms 19. Therefore, the internal elements, suchas the main substrate 20, can be prevented from being exposed from thegap, so that the appearance quality and the durability of products canbe improved. Moreover, one edge portion of the backbone member 14 isslidably provided to the first chassis member 12A and the other edgeportion is fixed to the second chassis member 12B. Thus, the backbonemember 14 slides following an opening/closing operation of the firstchassis member 12A and the second chassis member 12B by the hingemechanisms 19. Therefore, when the two chassis members 12A and 12B areopened into a flat shape, so that a gap therebetween decreases, thebackbone member 14 can be prevented from causing floating, a positionalshift, or the like within the chassis members 12A and 12B.

Herein, in the portable information device 10, the backbone member 14 isnon-slidably fixed on the second chassis member 12B side on which thebattery device 26 is mounted. More specifically, particularly thebattery device 26 among the elements mounted in the portable informationdevice 10 has been desired to be enlarged as much as possible in orderto cope with high capacity and is difficult to be formed into a specialshape as compared with the main substrate 20 and the like. Then, bysetting an edge portion on the battery device 26 side of the backbonemember 14 as the fixation side, there is no necessity of securing theslide distance L on the battery device 26 side, which can contribute toa size reduction as the entire device. It is a matter of course that thesetting of the slide side and the fixation side of the backbone member14 can be changed as appropriate.

The backbone member 14 has the sheet-like member 40 which is a flexiblesheet-like member bendable into a double-folded state and thereinforcing members 44 a to 44 b stuck to the inner surface of thesheet-like member 40 and extending in the Y direction along one edgeportions of the first chassis member 12A and the second chassis member12B. Thus, the backbone member 14 can reinforce a portion covering a gapbetween the chassis members 12A and 12B folded into a double-foldedstate with the reinforcing members 44 a to 44 d. Therefore, the backbonemember 14 can be prevented from being deformed by receiving externalforce and causing a breakage or the like in the internal elements, suchas the main substrate 20. Moreover, the reinforcing members 44 a to 44 dare stuck to the sheet-like member 40, and therefore a smooth bendingoperation of the backbone member 14 can be prevented from being blocked.It is a matter of course that, even when the reinforcing members 44 a to44 d are omitted and the backbone member 14 contains only the sheet-likemember 40, the effect of covering the gap between the chassis members12A and 12B can be secured.

The plurality of reinforcing members 44 a to 44 d form the arch shape inwhich the side surfaces 48 a and 48 b abut on each other on the innersurface side of the bending portion 40 a of the sheet-like member 40bent into a double-folded state. Thus, the reinforcing members 44 a to44 d function as supports firmly supporting the folded chassis members12A and 12B. Therefore, the rigidity in the thickness direction of theportable information device 10 can be secured, so that the foldedchassis members 12A and 12B can be prevented from being crushed byexternal force and causing a breakage or the like in the internalelements and the like of the display 16.

In the portable information device 10, the lid member 56 containingmetallic foil closes the groove portions 42 b and 43 b to preventfalling off of the wiring lines 54. Therefore, when the portableinformation device 10 is changed from the storage form illustrated inFIG. 6A to the usage form illustrated in FIG. 6B, for example, the lidmember 56 is also bent together with the backbone member 14 so as tofollow the bending operation of the pair of plate members 18 a and 18 aof the support plate 18. As a result, the wiring lines 54 can becertainly prevented from contacting adjacent end portions (edge) betweenthe plate members 18 a and 18 a and the like, so that the durability andthe reliability of the portable information device 10 are improved. Theend portion on the X1 side which is the end portion on the slide side ofthe lid member 56 may be configured so as to extend beyond the endportion on the X1 side of the first support member 42. Thus, the wiringlines 54 can be protected in a region larger than a region where thewiring lines 54 overlap with the backbone member 14.

It is a matter of course that the present invention is not limited tothe embodiments described above and can be freely altered withoutdeviating from the scope of the present invention.

We claim:
 1. A portable information device comprising: a first chassismember and a second chassis member foldably connected by connection ofone edge portions disposed adjacent to each other by a hinge mechanism;a display over inner surfaces of the first chassis member and the secondchassis member, and which is foldable into a double-folded state; abackbone member provided throughout and between an inner surface of theone edge portion of the first chassis member and an inner surface of theone edge portion of the second chassis member so as to cover a gapbetween the one edge portion of the first chassis member; and a grooveportion for passing a wiring line connecting the first chassis memberside and the second chassis member side, the groove portion is in aninner surface of the backbone member along a direction from the firstchassis member to the second chassis member.
 2. The portable informationdevice according to claim 1, wherein: the backbone member is a flexiblesheet-like member, and a reinforcing member is stuck to an inner surfaceof the flexible sheet-like member and extends along the one edgeportions of the first chassis member and the second chassis member. 3.The portable information device according to claim 2, furthercomprising: two or more reinforcing members are arranged in parallelalong a direction from the one edge portion of the first chassis memberto the one edge portion of the second chassis member, and thereinforcing members form an arch shape in which side surfaces of thereinforcing members abut on each other on an inner surface side of abending portion of the flexible sheet-like member in a state where thefirst chassis member and the second chassis member are folded into adouble-folded state through the hinge mechanism.
 4. The portableinformation device according to claim 1, further comprising: an elasticmember energizing the backbone member along a slide direction from thesecond chassis member to the first chassis member.
 5. The portableinformation device according to claim 1, further comprising: a lidmember closing an opening of the groove portion.
 6. The portableinformation device according to claim 5, further comprising: a supportplate fixed to the inner surface sides of the first chassis member andthe second chassis member, and supports a rear surface of the display,and a metal sheet-like member is the lid member.
 8. The portableinformation device according to claim 5, wherein: one end portion of thelid member is fixed to a surface of the backbone member and another endportion opposite to the one end portion of the lid member is movablyplaced on the surface of the backbone member in a slide direction of thebackbone member.
 8. The portable information device according to claim7, wherein: the other end portion of the lid member extends beyond anend portion of the backbone member.